The resurgence of stand-up comedy has been one of the most remarkable cultural
phenomena of the past ten years. When it works — when a comedian can stand
alone in front of a room full of strangers and generate a firestorm of
laughter — there are few things more exhilarating. It’s like seeing a
high-wire artist performing without a safety net, and comedians liken the
experience to an addictive, drug-induced high. This is the first of a
fabulous two-parter in which they talk about their lonely and thrilling art.
There’s not much point in listing the contributors because just